Kuwait City/New Delhi: Indian products were being boycotted at Kuwaiti supermarkets as part of a growing protest in Islamic nations against offensive remarks about Prophet Mohammad by now-expelled and suspended BJP functionaries, that has snowballed into a major diplomatic controversy.
Indian spices, tea, sacks of rice and chilies were covered with plastic sheets at the Ardiya Co-Operative Society or being pulled out of the shelves in Kuwait City.
“We have removed Indian products”, signs in Arabic read at the superstores.
Nasser Al Mutairi, Ceo of Al Ardiya Cooperative Society, said: “We boycotted Indian products because of insults to the Prophet. We ask Kuwaiti Muslim people do not accept insulting the Prophet”.
Other Gulf countries have also condemned the remarks made by the now-expelled BJP functionary Naveen Jindal and suspended BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.
A customer at the cooperative stated “Boycotting Indian products in obligatory for every Muslim and every country because it is the matter concerning the Prophet; all Islamic countries and Muslims must boycott Indian products so that our reaction has a big impact.”
The Kuwaiti foreign ministry on Sunday summoned Indian Ambassador Sibi George to protest the remarks. George had met the Assistant Secretary of State for Asia Affairs, who handed him an official protest note expressing Kuwait’s categorical rejection and condemnation of statements offensive to the holy Prophet, Islam and Muslims made by a politician of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.
The Kuwaiti foreign ministry said that while Kuwait welcomes the statement issued by the BJP in India announcing the suspension of the party official, it “demands a public apology for the vile statements from the perpetrator, which if they continue without punishment, will lead to increased extremism”.
The ministry pointed out “such statements reflect a clear ignorance of the message of peace of Islam and its tolerance and role of the great work of Islam in building civilizations and nations, including India.”
A statement by the Indian Embassy in Kuwait said the ambassador “conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the government of India. These are the views of fringe elements.”
“In line with our civilizational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in diversity, the government of India accords the highest respect to all religions. Strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks,” said the statement.
“A statement has also been issued by concerned quarters emphasizing respect for all religions, denouncing insult to any religious personality or demeaning any religion or sect. Vested interests that are against India-Kuwait relations have been inciting the people using these derogatory comments. We should work together against such mischievous elements who aim to undercut the strength of our bilateral ties,” the statement added.
Qatar on Sunday also summoned the Indian envoy in the country over the offensive comments. In response, Indian Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal released a similar statement in which he said the comments are views of fringe elements.
On Sunday, Nupur Sharma was suspended from BJP “with immediate effect”, while Jindal’s primary membership of the party was cancelled.
The Grand Mufti of Oman along with Twitter handles with a large following have called for the boycott of Indian products.
In a statement on Sunday the BJP asserted that it “is strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion,” adding that it “respects all religions and strongly denounces insult of any religious personality.”
The protests in Kuwait come even as the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry is reported to be in talks with the Indian ambassador Sibi George to persuade the Indian government to exclude Kuwait from a wheat export ban.
Kuwait is hoping that India will ease the ban on its wheat exports as it has done with some other countries. Kuwait, like other countries, is facing a food security problem as a result of the Ukraine conflict. (UNI)
